President Obama signs bill that increases health, wellness and learning for our students

Educators know that well-nourished students learn better

WASHINGTON - December 13, 2010 -

Today, the NEA-supported Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. The bill expands eligibility for lunch programs and sets nutrition standards for school meals. It is the first increase in school lunch funding since 1973. The bill also includes training on nutrition and food safety standards for education support professionals..

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel:

“The NEA and its 3.2 million members congratulate President Obama on signing the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307). Those of us who work in America’s public schools know that sometimes a school breakfast or lunch will be the only meal a student will get all day. We all know that young, eager minds need good nutrition to fully realize their promise.

“This child nutrition bill accomplishes two important goals: it provides access to more meals for the growing number of children in poverty, and it raises the nutritional standards for those meals. Communities nationwide will benefit from this momentous legislation.”

Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NEAMedia# # #The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.

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